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REMI
RAW X INFINITY

After a massive 2013, culminating in being awarded the coveted title of Triple j’s Unearthed Artist of the Year, REMI has hit the ground running in 2014. With a new single “LIVIN’” on the airwaves right across the country, multiple upcoming national tours, growing international buzz and, most excitingly, his much-anticipated album “RAW X INFINITY” due for release Friday June 6th through REMI’s own DIY label House of Beige, and distributed by Unified.

“RAW X INFINITY” will be the second album for the three-piece Melbourne outfit featuring REMI and his musical collaborators, SENSIBLE J and DUTCH.

New to the game but old to its’ ways, 22-year-old Melbourne lyricist Remi ‘REMI’ Kolawole exudes a unique style, rhythmic flow and an honest delivery. His semi tongue-in-cheek braggadocios style, by no means overshadows his lyrical abilities. REMI’s rapping persona is comfortable sitting amongst varying musical backdrops and tempos, and his singing voice is as smooth and catchy as the hooks he sings. Expertly balancing singing and rapping, REMI’s content is highly self-referential, littered with pop-cultural tid bits and tales of a life equally footed in fantasy as it is reality.

REMI began collaborating with SENSIBLE J and DUTCH in 2011 under the Melbourne Hip Hop/Soul collective Run for Your Life. Within 6 months the group had won the Hill Top Hood’s Initiative Grant and went on to play a heap of shows throughout 2011/2012 culminating with the release of RFYL Vol 1. in Feb 2012.

At the same time as hyping for Run For Your Life (with SENSIBLE J and DUTCH) REMI was working on his own material, and the three joined forces to record and form a new band with REMI on Vocals, SENSIBLE J on drums and production and DJ duties, and DUTCH on Beats and production.

REMI’s track record is that of a busy man. 2011 saw the release of two EP’s (“CHILDISH” and “FIVE BEATS I LOVE”), and the completion of his first album “REGULAR PEOPLE SH#%T” in 2012. In April 2013 REMI dropped a decidedly big tune in “SANGRIA”, his incredibly catchy tribute to days off and drinks with the homies, and the first single lifted from the forthcoming album. “SANGRIA”, and its accompanying video in all its laid back Melbourne summer glory, was an instant reminder of that season just passed, but most importantly, a re-introduction to the exceptionally talented and infinitely likeable sounds of one of the brightest new voices in Australian rap. The track scored #85 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 and has been heavily supported by community radio, and has been viewed more than 120,000 times on Youtube and featured on Channel [V], Rage and numerous blogs around the world.

“SANGRIA” hailed from a mixtape titled “F.Y.G: Act 1” which was nominated on New York’s NPR 2013 Best Albums of 2013 list. The tape finds the 22 year old acting up over an eclectic mix of jams (Gangstarr, Kaytranada) and an impressive set of original tracks (“SANGRIA”, second single “SAGGIN’”, last year’s acclaimed single “APE”) all produced by in-house long-term collaborators and House of Beige homies SENSIBLE J & DUTCH.

REMI’s next single “LIVIN’” presented an edgier slant to his previous work and a solemn social commentary on how we live and how we’re told to live (in Australia). The track was instantly added to full rotation on Triple J and was praised for its rock-solid flow and forward thinking production. This further taste of REMI’s forthcoming album “RAW X INFINITY” had definitely increased the anticipation for what to expect next.

The forthcoming album “RAW X INFINITY” features the 2 singles “SANGRIA” and “LIVIN’”, alongside the latest single “TYSON” - A track about undeniable animalistic energy and being at the peak of your powers like Mike Tyson was in the 1988 era, and XTCPARTY – A reflection on this generation’s exploration of and dependency on external stimulation.

REMI has toured across Australia building a reputation as a must see live act, performing headline club shows, opening for Joey Bada$$ and the Under Achievers, The Pharcyde and Illy, as well as gracing the stage at various Festivals including the Falls Festival, Pushover and the St. Kilda Festival. REMI is often joined on stage by multiple guests from a variety of musical genres including N’fa Jones of 1200 Techniques fame and Melbourne singer Chris Scott.

REMI is being championed as a refreshing, young, evolving, gifted, forward thinking talent to watch, and rightfully so. REMI is one to watch certainly. One to see and hear definitely.

“RAW X INFINITY” due for release Friday June 6th through REMI’s own DIY label House of Beige, and distributed by Unified.

I just listen to artists that I like, and how they get their personalities across through their music. I also recorded a bunch of songs that will never see the light of day, and worked my arse of until I was happy with how they sounded. With the beats, we tried to create a balance of organic sounds, with electronic bass instruments, though still trying to keep it as natural as possible.

What’s a Remi live show like?

If it’s up to my friends, wild as f**k! I love performing live, so I just get really amped and, usually, the crowd feeds off that and it results in pandemonium.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

Everything that J Smith (producer) has ever told me. Except for when he tells me I should eat less Nando’s, then he doesn’t know what the f**k he’s talking about.

Tell us about the bands, producers and people in the Melbourne music community that inspire you.

I’m pretty lucky in the sense that the people who inspire me are in my team. Whether it is, Run For Your Life or the UY collective. J Smith has probably been my biggest inspiration/mentor. N’fa’s been like a brother and mentor. Syreneyiscreamy & Chris Scott’s voices make me pull my finger out on hooks. My homie Jarryd Williams, who is the other Leader of the UY collective, makes me hustle. Everyone else holds down his or her own instruments, whether it’s a camera or knowledge about the industry, and that makes you want to work harder. It’s basically my family (both real and musical) that inspires me, in the un-cheesiest way possible.

What’s coming up for you in 2012?

I’ve got a gig this Wednesday for Uncomfortable beats at Bar Open on Brunswick Street, that I’m pretty excited for. Heading up to Sydney this weekend to See Hau with the Run For Your Life peeps. Got some gigs in Perth during March, which will be siiiiiiick. Writing a bunch more tracks, and finding out how to make money by doing this music shit.